El Centro Sector Border Patrol Intercepts $1.2 million in Cocaine

Salton City, Calif. – On Friday, El Centro Sector Border Patrol agents assigned to the Indio station apprehended a suspected narcotic smuggler and seized over $1.2 million worth of illegal narcotics concealed within a truck.

At approximately 2 p.m., Border Patrol agents encountered a 32-year-old male driving a red Ford Ranger as he approached the Highway 86 checkpoint located between Westmorland and Salton City. A Border Patrol canine detection team alerted to the vehicle and referred the driver to secondary for further inspection. During the inspection agents discovered 13 wrapped packages of cocaine concealed within the vehicle’s seats and walls of the truck bed. The cocaine had a combined weight of approximately 38 pounds with an estimated value of more than $1.2 million.

The man, a citizen of Mexico and Lawfully Admitted Permanent Resident card holder, was arrested. The suspect, vehicle, and narcotics were turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration for further investigation.